Christmas At Calvary

Christmas At Calvary

Matt. 1:21/ Luke 2:11-2

Intro- We are given the announcement to Joseph in a dream that he is to marry Mary. He is told what to name the child and why. Jesus which means - (Jehovah is Salvation) For He shall save his people from their sins. To The Shepherds was announced those beautiful words "Unto YOU is born... A SAVIOR" The Message came to poor lonely and probably ostracized people. Shepherds. The announcement came with a sign attached to it. "You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes laying in a manger" This made identifing the child relatively easy, probably only child in Bethlehem born in a stable, and also showed that this Child this Savior this one who would Save His people FROM their sins would be mindful of them,would not turn even shepherds away.

We talk about gifts and one department store owner placed a sign in his store that read; " KEEP CHRISTMAS WITH YOU ALL YEAR - USE OUR MONTHLY PAYMEN PLAN" Sometime we lose the concept of sacrifical giving in all the hype and jargon in the stores and ads of the season . But This shows the Love the mercy the compassion the giving heart of God. John penned those immortal words, God so loved the world that HE GAVE. We see Christmas really starts at Calvary Jesus was born and that is why we celebrate Christmas, He was born to give His life for us.

I. God gave His only Son. I wish we could really grasp that concept.

A. Came wrapped in swaddling clothes, died wrapped in a crown of thorns whelps stripes, pain and agaony.

B. God gave His Son to die, as a sacrifice for OUR SIN not His he had none

C. God Gave His Only Son Again I wish we could comprhend this.

1. Illustrate with Man who lost his son in saving the train from wreck.

II. Jesus Gave His life. (Willingly surrendered all heaven to come down to our level) When I Could not come to Him he Came to Me HALLELUJAH

A. Craig Bloomberg one of the countries leading athority on the Gospels said, "Christians believe that as wonderful as Jesus life and teachings and miracles were they were meaningless if it were no historically factual that Christ died and was raised from the dead and that this provided atonement.. of the sins of humanity."

B. He Gave Himself. The Oyster gets an irritant in its shell and secrets a fluid to help with the irritation called Mother of Pearl, it continues this secretion to keep the irritant whatever it may be sand etc from being so painful, till it actually gives it's life away, this secretion and this irritant is then something very valuable to us, the Pearl.

1. SO Jesus had an irritant sin. He gave and he gave and he gave finally giving His own life to give us this pearl of great price.

III. Jesus Gives us life. Not just life but life more abundant.

A. The only reason we have Life more Abundant is because God GAVE HIS SON WHO GAVE HIS LIFE TO GIVE US LIFE.

B. There was once a poor drunkard who woke one morning in a stange kind of bed, feeling something near him warm and soft. Finally it dawned on him that he was in a stabe close beside a cow. He laughed grimly as he thought of breakfast. In his mind he went over those who might be persuaded to help him with a meal. "No, I can't ask any of them; they would say I have fallen too low." Then he heard the bells ringing, and realized it was Christmas Day. "What was the story about the shepherds - the angels - and a manger?" Well he wasn't the first one who had slept in a stable. He thought, "Mebbe the reason He slept in a manger was so He could help a fellow like me- a fellow too low for anyone else to help." there and then the poor outcast knelt and prayed " Lord be merciful to me a sinner"

Conclusion - Because He gave we love Him we adore Him He is Precious. Is it any wonder we find in the scripture that verse; "Unto you therefore which believe HE IS PRECIOUS" (1Pet 2:7a).

Vincent Taylor said, "Of all the names none is more precious in Christian's ears than the name of "JESUS""

John Newton that rough and dirty sailor and later captain of a slave ship who found Jesus precious to his soul was preaching in later years of life, nearly blind and faltering having to have an assistant stand in the pulpit with him on Sundays and spoke in whispers, but nothing could keep him from preaching as long as he had breath. One Sunday as he was preaching he repeated the sentence, "Jesus Christ is precious." His helper whispered to him " But you have already said that twice. " Newton turned to his helper and said loudly, "Yes I've said it twice, and I'm goin to say it agian" The stones in the ancient sancturey faitly shook and the grand old preacher said again "Jesus Christ is Precious."

I can see plainly how Squire Parsons was inspired to write that beautiful Christmas song

The most beautiful gift was given,

When God himself in mercy decorated a tree;

The most beautiful light there is shining.

I love to spend Christmas at Calvary.